Me: Please
describe yourself in five words.
Charmaine:
1) Ambitious,
2) Go-getter
3)
Persistent
4) Humble
5) Self-confident.
Me: Where were you born?
Charmaine:I was born
in Soweto at Senaoane clinic on the 3rd of May 1987, then grew up at
Dlamini 2 Bongiwe street. What was your childhood like? I grew up in a
large and very warm family,my grandmother was the pillar of strength she
gave us unconditional love and taught how to keep the love amongst us
and share it outside our home,she taught us how to share we were a happy
family.
Me: Top five books you have read?
Charmaine:
1) The Secret-Joe Vitale,
2) Mind
Power-John Kehoe,
3)The Alchemist-Paul Caelho,
4)Capitalist
Nigger-Chika Onyeani,
5) The Saint,The Surfer and The CEO-Robin Sharma.
Me:What are some of the challenges you have faced in your life while
growing up?
Charmaine: When I grew up I had an issue of low self-esteem because I
was very dark skinned. I was made to believe that being
dark skinned is a sin and my peers used to ill-treat me so I grew up
with so many issues such as having suicidal thoughts cause of the
treatment although I never had guts to do it. I grew up with those issues
until high school then I joined netball at the age of 12 years old and
that gave me self-confidence a bit. I started accepting myself as I am
because God made me that way.
Me: Is that solely how you overcome or were there other ways?
Charmaine: Besides
netball,when I finished high school I got a job at McDonald's, I was
very scared at first which goes back to "low self-esteem". I didn't
believe I can actually be as quick and efficient as the people working
there. I got used to the environment and started gaining confidence. I
got myself a mentor which was my operations manager...he mentored me
until I became a manager then an events coordinator...I took the first
step to take things into my own accord and I did it...
Me: What do you think
are the biggest challenges faced by entrepreneurs in South Africa today?
Charmaine: I think the biggest challenge would be lack of information and
resources to start a business. We basically start our businesses due to
what we know and we are also challenged because those who have relevant
information in specific businesses don't share information. Then to grow
a business can be challenging because we have no experience when it
comes to managing finance.
Me: Why did you choose to become an entrepreneur?
Charmaine: When I finished school I wanted to become a Chattered Accountant but my
school marks were not good enough. I was told I must do a bridging
course in banking but I didn't get fees money. I couldn't study that's
when I looked for a job and got it at McDonald's. I worked there for
8years then I got promoted as an events coordinator that's when I fell
in love with events...I always had a phobia to spend 10years at
McDonald's and events was my break through to leave McDonald's and start
my own thing and I did.
Me: Has it been an easy journey?
Charmaine: It has'nt been
easy at all especially as a woman firstly I struggled to be given a
chance then when I started my business. I had two women partners and my main
aim was to empower women in events and do hard labor but as time goes on
we went our separate ways. I am left alone then decided to work with my
younger brother and so far we work well together.
Me: Tell us more about
your business.
Charmaine: I started my business late 2012 but I launched it in May
2013 its called BASADI-BA-SOWETO PTY LTD. We started out as hiring of
stretch tents. When I left McDonald's I got my provident money and
invested it in buying a stretch tent then that one tent bought other
tents. As I was working with my clients I found out that clients
prefer to use one person for all the event things...then I started
doing decor and now I want to do catering. In my business we do all kinds of
events such as kiddie's parties,weddings,fashion
shows,unveilings,etc...
Me: What do you do when you feel like giving up?
Charmaine: The
only time I feel like giving up is in winter especially after a hectic
festive season. What I normally do is I plan for summer and get ideas
for next winter so that I don't experience dry season in my business...I
also confide in my close friends or write a journal but the thing I
always do is Pray and ask for wisdom from the man upstairs.
Me: You also run
a netball team as a form of a mentorship tool, please tell us more
about it.
Charmaine: I joined the netball team last year, a lady I know used to
coach the team (Little Angels) and she had to relocate and asked me to
take over the team. I did because she knows I love netball, I fell in love
with the kids,they gave me the same love...its something I do, not
because I expect to get paid but because I love sharing my netball
skills with the kids because netball helped me and served as a
foundation when I grew up. I want to give back by coaching them, It's not
much and its quite challenging because we don't have resources and when
we have away games I pop out money from my own pocket but that doesn't
bother me because I am doing for the love and the kids appreciate it.
Me: Why do you think mentorship is important?
Charmaine: I think mentorship is very
important and if I got a mentor at a younger age I'd probably be the
president today
ha ha ha. I believe kids need to know their true self at a young age
and they need to have something they stand for such as
principles,values,standards and self-respect...mentorship is like sports,
its a great foundation.
Me: Who is your biggest influence?
Charmaine: Ethel Dintso my
best friend,my mentor,my sister,my pillar of strength, my advisor, my
everything.
Me: What are the main virtues you live by?
Charmaine:
1) Be yourself,
2)
What doesn't kill you make you stronger,
3) Your past circumstances does
not define you, 4
) As we grow we learn,as we learn we grow...
Me: If people
need you where can they get hold of you?
Charmaine: They can contact me on: 0724515587/0604645596
or email me at chamzadlamini@gmail.com
or go to my business page basadibasoweto pty ltd
or my personal page Charmaine Pinotage Dlamini Mashaba thanks.
I am proud to know you as a friend you are a strong and Amazing woman!
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